Page 94 of Forbidden Hearts

Alonzo

The diamond earrings and necklace I gave her before dinner sparkle against the candles on the table and the tiki torches surrounding us.

Rows of tables are lined next to each other on the beach, illuminated only by tiki torches, candles, and the full moon. We are served lobsters and clams that were freshly caught this morning and prepared by the finest chefs on the island. But honestly, I’m just happy to share this moment with Alex. She deserves it after everything she’s been through.

She deserves this and more.

When we arrived, I tipped one of the servers to get a table closer to the ocean and away from the other tables. The ocean waves mute the constant chatter from the other guests.

“This is amazing,” Alex says. “Are you sure we have to leave in a few days?”

“Trust me, our next destinations are just as amazing, if not more,” I assure her.

She turns to face the ocean. “You’ve been here before? With other women, I presume.”

“No,” I laugh. “I just have an expensive trip planner that I trust. He assured me this would be an unforgettable vacation.”

“It’s been so far,” she turns to look at me with a smile. “Do you think we can take a dip in the ocean? Maybe skinny dipping?”

“Ms. Walker,” I say, surprised she would suggest something like that. It’s not in my nature to share the woman I’m with, but there’s nothing I cannot deny her. I will literally walk to the end of the world for her.

“Is that a yes?” she flickers her eyelashes at me.

This is definitely not the girl I met on the first day of class. She’s different. More free. Happy. This is the person who was hiding in the corner of her being, fighting every day to survive in this cruel world. All stress and no fun.

“It’s a maybe,” I say, looking at the other tables. There are a few families here, but no kids. Thank goodness. “Maybe when we’re the only ones left here.”

“We’ll see,” she smiles, digging into her meal.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see a server approaching us. He stops a few feet from the table and gives me a thumbs-up.

I discretely nod at him, and he runs off again.

“What’s going on?” Alex asks.

“Look over there,” I point to the sky above the ocean. Over the dark, still water, balls of fire fly into the sky, revealing a small vessel on the water. Seconds later, bright lights illuminate the sky. Fireworks of all colors decorate the night sky with thunderous sounds.

“Holy crap, that’s beautiful, Alonzo!”

Gasps andahhsfrom the other tables cut through the sounds of fireworks and the ocean. This five-minute fireworks show cost me two hundred grand, including bribing people throughout a chain of command to get the fireworks on the island and approved by the local government, not to mention the hotel management.

But it was worth it.

Alex gasps at the fireworks. Her gorgeous eyes reflect the many colors of the night sky, and a smile decorates her face throughout the fireworks show.

The sky looks beautiful under all those colors, but itwishedit was as beautiful as my Alex.Mi cielo.

???

Two weeks later, we’re making love in a different hotel on a different island.

When she comes for the second time, I climb off her and lie next to her. We look into each other’s eyes.

“I don’t want this vacation to end,” she says, threading her fingers into my hair.

Smiling, I grab her other hand and kiss it. “Neither do I. But we both need to return to school next week.”

“I know,” she sighs. “At least it’s my last semester. I can’t wait to graduate, though it’s a little scary to think about what comes next.”

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